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BLACK FRIDAY
Found some freebie deals at Ace Hardware, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Didn’t seem like there were as many good deals this year. Lotsa half off deals that I can find any other time of the year. Ace has a half off one item coupon for Saturday. Joanns and Michaels have some good coupons in their ad for today and Saturday.

WELW
I’ll be at Great Lakes Mall with the WELW 1330 AM crew at 8:30 AM until 9:00 AM this Friday selling my Our Town coupon books and Savvy Shopper Booklets. We’ll take questions and simulcast live there. Listen to me on Mondays on WELW starting at 7:18 AM.

MARCS & ALDIS
Sweet potatoes 3 lb bag for .99 cents.

WOMANS DAY MAGAZINE
There is a $5 off a $5 purchase or more coupon in the magazine for Hallmark Gold Crown items.

NEWS-HERALD
For new subscribers or those that haven’t subscribed in 60 days, you can get a year of the Lake County News-Herald for $118.32 for a year. It’s like getting the Sunday paper for $1 and the other days of the week for 22 cents. Quite the deal when the news-stand price on the daily paper is 75 cents. Can’t beat that deal for home delivery. The coupons alone that you’d get in the paper will pay for the subscription.

Plus you get to see what inane things and puns little Billy and the crew from Family Circus come up with every day in the Comics section. For instance, the comic I read today was little Billy crabbing about how Dolly was humming Christmas songs before Thanksgiving. It was more about social commentary and less about being funny with Billy’s inability to deal with the nuances in life because they don’t fit his highly-structured rigid lifestyle. When he gets older my guess is Billy is going to be a thrice-divorced accountant that throws rocks at wayward children when they happen to accidentally walk on his lush-green highly-manicured lawn.

A LITTLE STORY
The many experiences of ones life, good and bad, mold us to who we are now today. Some we’d like to do over. Some we’d like to forget. Some we’d like to remember again. Some build our character. Some, well, are full of character. My life experiences are varied like a snowflake. Enjoy some tidbits from my past…

Back in the day my clothes mainly came from Uncle Bills, Zayres, and Gold Circle. Throw in a outfit or two from Woolworths and Sears and I was styling. I think polyester back then was bullet-proof and water-proof. It also repelled friends and dating. I remember some of the shirts I wore for school pics. One had a zipper ring in the front. I’m sure I was thinking it was for the throng of girls that would want to pull it down and see my bare chest. I believe that was my third grade picture shirt.

In fourth grade I had a busted lip. I tried to suck it in so that it wouldn’t be noticeable in the school picture. Didn’t work. Now the reason I got a busted lip is not what you are thinking. No fights or baseball bats to the noggin. The reason I got a busted lip was because I tried jumping rope with my corduroys. I was using the corduroys as the jump rope while in the classroom.

Yes, yes. Go ahead and laugh. But it sucked. Ok, you can stop laughing now. I landed face first, teeth into lip. I think I could roll up a newspaper and pass it through the cut. Nowadays people would just put some type of earring in it. I’m just happy I wasn’t trying to double-dutch my much more durable and not-so-easy-to-jump-rope with Sears Toughskins. That would’ve been disastrous.

Now that I think about it some of you are wondering what I was doing jumping rope using my corduroys. My pants were off because we were dressed for gym and I was holding my regular school clothes. I did have shorts on. Why I was jumping rope with my corduroys was probably out of boredom. Maybe I had watched a show where some kids were double-dutching and I wanted to try it. I think back in those days people double-dutched frequently. So maybe I was trying to fit in. Boy, did that go sour. I don’t think my self-esteem recovered until the sixth grade.

I then lost some self-esteem in 7th grade when I leaned over to the side of my desk to pick up a book and out flared a fart that woke up Bunky, who was sleeping a row over from me. After he laughed about it I found that farting was a sure-fire way to get people to laugh. And to this day I make sure I make people laugh frequently using my vocal digestive system. So when I let it out I thought it was bad, but it was comic genius. And to anyone who has to put up with my farting, you can thank Bunky.

Not like I tried to be obnoxious and gross. But there was another time when it accidentally came out. I was taking a test and was deep into thought about the questions. Out of the blue I let out this long high-pitched fart that sounded as if it came from someone a couple rows back. The teacher, seeing that this was a learning opportunity, stated that gas was made up of methane and some other gases that I forget what he said. Mr Ely was a science teacher so I applaud him for running with it.

The rest of the class was then pointing fingers at everyone but me as to who did it. I ventriloquized that fart like a pro. Beth Dunbar who sat next to me didn’t even think I did it. I believe it was a non-smelling fart too, so all the more mysterious as to who dealt it. Yes, these are some of my finer moments in life that made me who I am. I wonder if I still have that zipper shirt. It was hot.

OUR TOWN COUPON BOOK
Get a practical gift for a present, especially one that will save money. Buy the Our Town coupon book. Loads of coupons for Cleveland area restaurants, golf courses, movie theaters, fast food restaurants, West Side Market, dry cleaners, Wineries, pizza coupons, and tons more. Over 800 pages of coupons. If you use just a few coupons, it pretty much pays for the book. Cost is $28 – includes free shipping!
Click here to order one:http://www.joethecouponguy.com/merchandise/index.htm

SAVVY SHOPPER BOOKLET
Another practical gift is a booklet that I put together with tons of information on how to save money. Over 1,000 web-sites that you will find can help you save money. Dozens of topics. Learn how to save money on gas, utility bills, car and home maintance, clothes, food, technology, and school. Cost is $13.
Click here to order:http://www.joethecouponguy.com/merchandise/index.htm

BLACK FRIDAY
Stand in line day again is coming! Yes, it’s Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when retailers go from being in the red to being in the black financially because us shoppers scoop up all the great deals out there.

Now remember, a deal really isn’t a deal unless it is at least 50% off and that depends on the list price. When stores go out of business people ravage it when the prices are just 20% to 30% off. Don’t get caught up in the hoopla. Make sure it’s truly a good deal.

Here’s some tips to move up in line, especially the ones where you have to camp out overnight. First, don’t bathe your nether regions for a good week or so. Ripening the body aroma will get people moving out of your way. You’ll be first in no time.

Next, if that doesn’t work, try talking real loud about some inane topic like the bursting strength of cardboard. Being very animated about it will help and try to lock eyes with people when you do it. That will make them uncomfortable, like those size tags on the back of shirts.

If neither of these work, then bring a tape of a square dance and play it out loud on a phonograph or boombox. When you turn your partner in line next to you ’round n ’round, make sure you work it so that you move up in line with each swing. Before you know it you will have do-si-do’s all the way to the front of the line.

THE WAVE
I found out some waving etiquette for bikers, runners, etc. from people who get my e-mail. I even found that people in wheelchairs wave to others in wheelchairs.
I found out some waving etiquette for bikers, runners, etc. from people who get my e-mail. I even found that people in wheelchairs wave to others in wheelchairs.

Here was another persons synopsis of how the waves work:
The wave: Runners wave to runners, bikers (on 10 speeds). Bikers (on 10 speeds) wave to other bikers and runners. Motorcycles wave to motorcycles. Walkers nod to runners. Runners nod to walkers. There now you have it.

I think I might develop a flow chart on this. I will even get on a tricycle to see how people react to me. I need to know who will wave or nod as I trudge on by. And if I skip by a runner will they nod? How about a walker? And if I skip with a wildy exaggerated gallop, will I get a heartier wave? Does this system just work only on the road or does it work in stores or other areas too? Does eye contact matter? Where does curtsying fit into all of this?

Damn my brain for making me think these things. Now I won’t be able to ride my bike in peace and anonymity. Maybe if I wear a helmet it means I am invisible and I don’t have to partake in these rituals. Or instead I will start my own ritual by shaking the hand of everyone that goes by me. Yes, that will work. I’m running with this one…

ALDIS
Sweet Potatoes – 99 cents for a 3 lb bag
Celery – 69 cents a bunch
Bags o’ Salad – 99 cents everyday
I found apples 20 cents each (normally 35 cents) – I weighed them when I got home and it came out to about 45 cents a pound.

GIANT EAGLE
Wishbone salad dressing – on sale for $2 – use .75 coupon at http://www.wish-bone.com/Coupons.aspx and get it for .50 cents. When you buy 5, you will get a $2 off on your next shopping trip. Find some other good coupons that double at COUPONS.COM.

HEINENS
Their Butterball bacon is BOGO. Use the recent .55 coupon or $1.00 coupon from Coupons.com (for area code 90210).

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS
CHANDLER & RUDD – the grocery store on Chagrin Blvd closed after 145 years in business.

BEST DEAL MAGAZINES
Find some great deals on magazine subscriptions. Makes a great holiday gift. The following are daily deals:
DATE TITLE TERM PRICE
16-Nov Family Circle 1 Year $4.29
17-Nov Fitness 1 Year $4.29
18-Nov Automobile 1 Year $4.29
19-Nov Harper’s Bazaar 1 Year $4.29
20-Nov Marie Claire 1 Year $4.29
21-Nov Smart Money 1 Year $10.29
22-Nov Parents 1 Year $4.29
23-Nov Every Day with Rachael Ray 1 Year $7.49
24-Nov Game Informer 1 Year $5.29
25-Nov Cycle World 1 Year $4.29
26-Nov Car & Driver 1 Year $4.29
27-Nov Family Fun 1 Year $4.29
28-Nov Woman’s Day 1 Year $4.29
29-Nov Vegetarian Times 1 Year $3.89

MOTOR TREND
Additional 20% Off
$3.75 for 1 year
Coupon Code: MT20
SHAPE
Additional 20% Off
As low as $3.75 for 1 year
Coupon Code: SHAPE20
SEASON OF SAVINGS AT BEST DEAL MAGAZINES
Take An Extra 15% Off Most Titles
Code: PXCJ1129 Offer Expires November 29, 2009
250+ Magazines under $10 with this coupon!
110+ Popular Magazines – Just $3.99 with this coupon!
48+ Popular Magazines – Just $5.24 with this coupon!
TAKE AN EXTRA $5 OFF $30 ORDER COUPON
Code: MNDCJ1129 Offer Expires November 29, 2009
TAKE AN EXTRA $7.50 OFF $40 ORDER COUPON
Code: MQQCJ1129 Offer Expires November 29, 2009
TAKE AN EXTRA $10 OFF $50 ORDER COUPON
Code: MQPCJ1129 Offer Expires November 29, 2009

KOHLS
They are having a combo deal this weekend. You can get 15%, 20%, or 30% off along with $10 off a $50 purchase certificate off a future visit coupon. The percentage off deals are mailed to Kohls credit card customers or you can scratch one off at the register. Must have the credit card to get the deal. Get 10% off by opening up a new credit card. And for those that got your bill mailed to you last month there was a $10 off a $10 purchase coupon in one of the small ad things that come with the bill.

GIANT EAGLE
DVDs are on sale over 60% on some.
Turkeys – 29 cents a pound with a $30 puchase in the Columbus market. Take that ad into other stores that price match and save yourself a trip. They might take it after printing it off of http://www.gianteagle.com. On the site make your store a Columbus area store and you will find it in their ad.Gift Cards – they are 20 cents off per gallon for your GetGo gas for every $50 you spend on gift cards until 11/25. Remember to be careful about purchasing gift cards. Too many stores are going bankrupt, making the cards worthless. Use them right away. Avoid giving them as gifts if you can. Give cash instead with coupons for the stores they like.

JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
I’m being auctioned off! My shopping skills that is. If you’ve ever wanted to become a super-saver and have a hard time keeping up with how deals work and have run into issues, then bid for my services. I will go shopping with you at agreed upon location(s) and show you how to save 70% and more while grocery and toiletry shopping or other store(s). I’ll teach you how to save more. The minimum bid starts at $100. You could save yourself tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime, so it’s a bargain.

Monies raised from the auction will go to Junior Achievement. It’s a great cause that helps kids learn life skills, many of which aren’t being taught in school. I’ve taught mostly 7th graders Personal Economics for many years. This past year I even heard back via my web-site e-mail from a parent thanking me for teaching their child, so these programs do make a difference. Even the kids have written me thank you cards that are inspiring. I’d also recommend signing up to teach a Junior Achievement class.

A LITTLE STORY
The weather was great this past weekend. We decided to take a bike ride. We rode past the usual assortment of road kill. Opposum, squirrel, snakes, chipmunks, deer, and something that looked like an artichoke.

I just wonder what happens to all the acorns the squirrels bury after they’ve been hit by a car. My guess is that there is a lazy squirrel that hangs around the neighborhood just watching where all the other squirrels bury their acorns, just knowing that they will end up as road kill. I bet it keeps a diary of buried acorns using a mapping system. If I find one of these diaries I’m gonna mess with the lazy squirrel by erasing the acorns locations and instead mark a spot with an acorn under the road.

During our bike ride we passed a lot of people walking, on bikes, motorcycles, and cars. I noticed that there is a unwritten rule that I must wave or or make a gesture to other bike riders. I wasn’t sure if that also meant people on motorcycles. I’m on a 10 speed and they are on a Harley. If I wave I might have break a rule that bike riders can’t wave or acknowledge people in cars or motorcycles. I believe there must be police hiding waiting to write out misdemeanors for people that mix up the wave system. I wasn’t sure if I should wave so to test it I did one of those waves like a first grader does after their Mom leaves after dropping them off at school. The guy acknowledged me back with a wave.

Another person on a ten speed passed by and I readied a wave. This time I tipped my cap. They just kept riding by. How rude I thought. I respectfully gestured hello and they just kept going. I turned around and caught up with them. I then lectured them on the rules of fellow bike rider acknowledging. There must be a wave structure and it must never be messed with.

As I turned the corner I noticed a squirrel waving at me. I decided I must give it a less enthusiastic wave since it wasn’t on any mode of transportation as I was. Before I got around to waving, I saw it looking at a diary. I ran it over.

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS
Target – Bedford store
Waldenbooks & Borders Express – they will be closing 200 of their stores. Borders Express stores in Parmatown mall, Soutpark, Chapel Hill, North Olmsted, and Stow are closing. Waldenbooks at Great Northern is closing.
B Dalton – closing the rest of their 50 stores by January
Diamond Video – Mentor

VETERANS DAY FREEBIESFor the active military and veterans:APPLEBEE’S – Applebee’s is offering a free entree on Wednesday to veterans and all active-duty military from 11 a.m. to midnight at all 1,900 locations. Although Applebee’s requests some kind of military ID, “We’re not going to argue with folks who might forget to bring it,” says Sam Rothschild, senior vice president of operations.

McCORMICK & SCHMICKS – For the 11th year in a row, the 87 locations in 25 states are offering free entrees to veterans on Sunday, 11/8. The chain also requests military ID and highly recommends reservations. The promotion is on Sunday instead of Veterans Day, “because it allows vets to bring their families who might not be available during the week,” CEO Bill Freeman says.
GOLDEN CORRAL – The 485-unit chain is offering free buffet meals — including beverage and dessert — to current military and vets on Monday, Nov. 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. No military ID is required for its ninth annual Military Appreciation Monday, says Dolly Mercer, national events manager. The event is held on this date, she says, “so we don’t interfere with Veterans Day activities.”